The American Society for Environmental History joins our colleagues in 28 other scholarly societies in opposing legislation designed to facilitate the carrying of guns on college campuses because of its impact on the free expression of ideas. We encourage our members in any state considering such legislation to bring the perspective of historians and educators to the debate.

The undersigned learned societies are deeply concerned about the impact of Texas’s new Campus Carry law on freedom of expression in Texas universities. The law, which was passed earlier this year and takes effect in 2016, allows licensed handgun carriers to bring concealed handguns into buildings on Texas campuses. Our societies are concerned that the Campus Carry law and similar laws in other states introduce serious safety threats on college campuses with a resulting harmful effect on students and professors.

American Academy of ReligionAmerican Anthropological AssociationAmerican Antiquarian SocietyAmerican Association for the History of MedicineAmerican Folklore SocietyAmerican Historical AssociationAmerican Musicological SocietyAmerican Philosophical AssociationAmerican Political Science AssociationAmerican Studies AssociationAmerican Society for AestheticsAmerican Society for Environmental HistoryAmerican Sociological AssociationAssociation for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian StudiesAssociation of American GeographersCollege Art AssociationLatin American Studies AssociationLaw and Society AssociationMedieval Academy of AmericaMiddle East Studies AssociationModern Language AssociationNational Communication AssociationNational Council on Public HistoryOral History AssociationSociety for American MusicSociety of Architectural HistoriansSociety of Biblical LiteratureSociety for EthnomusicologyWorld History Association